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Consumer Information Sheet for Playground Surfacing Materials  

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that about 100 000 playground 
equipment-related injuries resulting from falls to the ground surface are treated annually in US hospital 
emergency rooms. Injuries involving this hazard pattern tend to be among the most serious of all 
playground injuries, and have the potential to be fatal, particularly when the injury is to the head. The 
surface under and around playground equipment can be a major factor in determining the injury-causing 
potential of a fall. It is self-evident that a fall on to a shock-absorbing surface is less likely to cause a 
serious injury than a fall onto a hard surface. Playground equipment should never be placed on hard 
surfaces, such as concrete or asphalt, and while grass may appear to be acceptable, it may quickly turn to 
hard-packed earth in areas of high traffic. Shredded bark mulch, wood chips, tine sand or the gravel are 
considered to be acceptable shock absorbing surfaces when installed and maintained at a sufficient depth 
under and around playground equipment.  

Table B.1 lists the maximum height from which a child would not be expected to sustain a life-threatening 
head injury in a fall on to four different loose-fill surfacing materials if they are Installed and maintained at 
depths of 150 mm, 225 mm and 300 mm.  

Table B.1: Fall height in millimetres from which a life-threatening head injury would not be expected  

 

 

 

 
However, it should be recognised that all injuries due to falls cannot be prevented, no matter what surfacing 
material is used.  

It is recommended that a shock absorbing material extend a minimum of 1 800 mm in all directions from the 
perimeter of stationary equipment such as climbing frames and slides. However, because children may 
deliberately jump from a moving swing, the shock absorbing material should extend in the front and rear of 
a swing a minimum distance of twice the height of the pivot point measured from a point directly beneath 
the pivot on the supporting structure.  

This information is intended to assist in comparing the relative shock-absorbing properties of various 
materials. No particular material is recommended over another. However, each material is only effective 
when properly maintained. Materials should be checked periodically and replenished to maintain correct 
depth as determined necessary for the equipment in question. The choice of a material depends on the 
type and height of the playground equipment, the availability of the material in a particular area, and its 
cost. 

 

Type of Material 

Depth of surfacing material 

150mm 

225mm 

300mm 

Double Shredded Bark Mulch 

1800 

3000 

3300 

Wood Chips 

1800 

2100 

3600 

Fine Sand 

1500 

1500 

2700 

Fine Gravel 

1800 

2100 

3000 

 

Summary of Contents for LK74

Page 1: ...mbled by an adult who has read and understood these instructions Keep the packaging away from children and dispose of all packaging before use For the installer and your children s safety it is important to fully read and understand the instructions and safety hazards before commencing the assembly of the product WARNING The disassembled product may contain small parts which pose a choking hazard ...

Page 2: ...ONTENTS 1 GENERAL SAFETY 3 1 1 DANGER FOR CHILDREN 3 1 2 RISK OF INJURIES 3 1 3 PRODUCT DAMAGE 3 1 4 ASSEMBLY ADVICE 3 2 SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 4 3 ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS 7 4 MAINTENANCE 13 5 CLEANING 15 6 WARRANTY 15 ...

Page 3: ...ing parts such as the springs or elastics which could catch your arms and legs Do not place any objects or body parts in the product s openings 1 3 PRODUCT DAMAGE Do not make alterations to the product Only use original spare parts Qualified technicians should only carry out repairs improper repairs can lead to danger for the user Use this product only as described in this manual 1 4 ASSEMBLY ADVI...

Page 4: ... integrity of the entire product Replace any parts as necessary 2 SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS The safety instructions of the product should always be considered and obeyed Using the product may result in permanent injury such as paralysis or even death Falling off the product may lead to injuries particularly to the back neck or head No clothes with hooks or lose parts should be worn or carried during pro...

Page 5: ...sembled or covered to limit access The product can be only used if it is in good condition worn or damaged parts should be replaced Objects which could be dangerous to the user should be away from the product Avoid unauthorized and unsupervised use of the product Do not use the product under influence of alcohol or drugs incl medicines Do not use the product as a jumping platform for other article...

Page 6: ...l surfacing materials if they are Installed and maintained at depths of 150 mm 225 mm and 300 mm Table B 1 Fall height in millimetres from which a life threatening head injury would not be expected However it should be recognised that all injuries due to falls cannot be prevented no matter what surfacing material is used It is recommended that a shock absorbing material extend a minimum of 1 800 m...

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Page 13: ...ther hardware elements as necessary a Do not over tighten to avoid damaging the thread or cracking the surrounding wood 3 Check all coverings and bolts for sharp edges and replace when required 4 Lubricate all moving metallic parts 5 When signs of oxidation and or rust appear on various metallic parts of your equipment sand rusted areas and tubular members and repaint using a non lead based paint ...

Page 14: ... equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere Timber openings checks occur due to the moisture content between internal and outer surfaces of the timber No two pieces of wood are exactly alike Each piece has its own characteristics and personality and reacts differently to climate changes When any wood products are exposed to the elements it develops wood checks A check is the radial separation of ...

Page 15: ... for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage You are entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure Full details of your consumer rights may be found at www consumerlaw gov au Please visit our website to view our full warranty terms and conditions http www ...

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